Fiorentina show interest in Chelsea right-back Ola Aina — report

According to Italian newspaper La Nazione (via Sport Witness), Fiorentina are keen on adding Chelsea right-back Ola Aina to their squad for next season.

Aina joined another Serie A club on a season-long loan last summer, with Torino negotiating a €10 million buy-option as well. They've been expected to exercise it for some time, but for now, that remains not to be the case.

His good performances have not gone unnoticed by teams outside of Torino however, as Fiorentina's interest shows. They are looking to get a right-back after a season of improvising at the position and Vincenzo Montella, who took over the managerial post from Stefano Pioli, included Aina in his transfer shortlist.

Their idea apparently is to try to cut out Torino from the deal and make a direct bid to Chelsea in an attempt to purchase Aina straight from the source. But in light of Aina’s buy-option in the loan, such an approach could very well lead to another Salah-Days of Our Lives soap opera.

There is also Aina’s personal wishes to be considered. He is already well settled in Turin, is in good favour with coach Walter Mazzarri and has found himself a key part of their bid for an Europa League spot in Serie A, currently sitting at seventh place in the table with 53 points in 33 matches. Meanwhile, Fiorentina sit 13 points behind them at 11th, after struggling to find good enough form under the guidance of former manager Pioli.

The ideal scenario would have been to utilize Aina instead of spending money on Zappacosta but unfortunately, that ship seems to have sailed some time ago...